The ASE’s proven methodology aligns diverse stakeholders ― business, IT, customers, vendors, subject matter specialists ― to define the future from high-level strategy to detailed design. The event unfolds in three phases, known as Scan, Focus, and Act.
“I have never been to a meeting that accomplished so much. This was the best beginning a project could ever have.”
- CFO, multi-billion dollar insurance firm
Scan
The Scan phase is expansive. During Scan, participants explore new ideas and perspectives while laying the foundation for a high-performance team. They level set their understanding of the current situation, uncover critical assumptions and issues, and push the frontiers of their thinking to envision the desired future state. At the same time, they learn new ways of working and begin to establish a common language.
“The event was excellent. It lived up to the hype and more. We came away with very actionable solutions and a real sense of corporate commitment to the project.”
- VP, Supply Chain, Retail Chain
Focus
The Focus phase is contractive. Participants take the ideas that are just “crazy” enough to work and design with them. Potential models of the solution are tested, combined, and iterated. Solutions that are not viable fall away as the group takes their understanding to the level of detail where areas of conflict can be addressed and the full dimensions and implications of the problem become clear. Throughout this process, participants confront and remove barriers to change as they themselves become increasingly invested in the success of their collaborative effort.
“We did it in half the time. It was fun. It brought our company together and every participant is now an ambassador for the SAP implementation. This is an enormous success.”
- CFO, Client Executive Sponsor for SAP Testing Phase
Act
The Act phase is explosive. Group alignment and intention to act is achieved. Key decisions are made, buy-in is gained from all stakeholders, and the group organizes to design components of the solution as well as the action plans for implementing them.
